November Is Now “Movember.” My Quest For Prostate Awareness

 

Hey all…. So I have been thinking about trying to work more charitable causes into my repertoire in the last year or so…. You get that?  I said I was “thinking about trying.”  I feel that that’s kinda a bullshit way to go about getting things done, in case you were wondering.  So a friend of mine says he’s got this thing he wants to talk to me about.  He sits me down and he’s all about this Movember movement.  Totally befuddled, I ask him to tell me more.  On a basic level, it’s men growing mustaches for the month of November to raise awareness about Prostate Cancer.  Now if you know about PC, you know it’s affecting larger and larger amounts of men, and over 40 your risk goes way up.  Guess what’s the largest sector of the population right now?  Baby Boomers.  Guess who’s gonna be over 40 one day (if i’m lucky)?  This guy.  So I’d kinda like to put that disease to rest, kinda like the Mumps in this country….

So while you’re growing your ’stache, you solicit donations from people to be given to the Prostate Cancer Foundation and the Lance Armstrong Foundation (responsible for that Livestrong gear).  Kind of like the breast cancer stuff where everyone wears pink and gathers donations, goes on walks, etc.   Then, at the end of the month, you celebrate the mustache with your very own Movember party, giving out awards for the best ’staches.  Oh, and they even have their own lingo.  A participating man is called, “Mo Bros” and women who are inclined to help raise money on their own are called, “Mo Sistas.”  Got it so far?

So we started a team here in Cleveland called, “Cleveland’s Mo Bros (you can join our team here),” but women are more than welcome to join.  We figure this year we’ll just be getting the word out locally, then build as we move forward year after year.  I’m already planning the party, I’m thinking about having the mustache king, Graham Funke come in and spin.  I’ve seen people advertising that Mustache May party… This takes the party concept to the next level by adding a charitable aspect to it.

To learn more about Movember, check out their page here

To keep up my progress, see my updates, and make a donation, click here

To follow me on twitter, click here

To find out everything you wanted to know about life (online) click here, lol

Droid Does

Droid Does

Have you seen these totally vague and random commercials using some fairly obscure, peppy song and mocking the iPhone?  It’s for the Droid phone, which is the Android 2.0 operating system from (drumroll please), Google!  These guys continue to push the envelope and the Droid is no exception.  In case you are wondering, they are also buying up mass amounts of fiber optic bandwith, so be expecting Google to offer mass market, high speed internet service in the upcoming years as well.

Some interesting points from this article I found on Business Week:

- “Not since the launch of the iPhone in 2007 has the announcement of a new product had as dramatic effect on the competitive landscape of the smartphone business as did Verizon Wireless’ Oct. 28 release of the Motorola Droid. The day after Droid, the handset, wireless networks, mapping, and navigation markets all look very different.”

- “Droid is no iPhone killer—the idea is silly—but it is a viable competitor.”

- “Suddenly, Apple seems to need Verizon more than Verizon needs Apple.”

- “Of course, the folks really weeping into their beer in the wake of the Droid announcement are map producers, and the makers of mapping software and navigation devices.”

- “Google’s free service pretty much blows up this economic model, especially since Google says it plans to make the software available to other phones and other operating systems.”

Read the full article HERE

Video Premiere of Ducksauce – Anyway

Told you abt this a while ago…. Ducksauce (It’s Armand Van Helden & A-Trak for the uninitiated), – Anyway, to be released Oct 26th on Data Records has just released the video for the song and it is pretty much exacly like I thought it would look like.  .  I would have made it look a little more disco-y instead of Jackson 5 Ed Sullivan -ish, but hell…. I just dig the song.  You should too.  It’s pretty much the song of the year… get familiar

New Cuyahoga Now Event Monday

Hey everybody…. For those of you who know me, you know I never bring stuff to you that’s b.s.  I’ve always been a straight shooter and been calling a spade a spade ‘81.  So here’s an event that I’m proud to say that I’m co-hosting.  Go to the website and educate yourself about Issues 5 and 6.

To over simplify it…. Issue 5 will keep our existing 3 person commissioner system and some outside party will do a study to see how we can fix that.  But of course it’ll cost money and happen at some point down the line.  Worst case scenario nothing will change and we will have wasted that almighty dollar.

Issue 6 will scrap what we have now and institute a single executive who takes the fall when the shit hits the fan.  Advising him will be a council who represents the constituents of Cuyahoga County.  That’ll happen like yesterday (in political terms of course, lol).

Please RSVP to robyn.smyers@sbcglobal.net

So some say Issue 5 is bunk because it’s something done in the future and nothing will happen now, plus there’s the chance that nothing will get fixed and we’ll be doing this again next election.

Some say Issue 6 is bunk because it will prob not fix everything and we won’t be able to elect our own coroner for example.  It puts our fate in the hands of officials that the single executive will be appointing.

I say 6 because the blame is easier to pin.  As it stands now, Hagan and Dimora are both being accused of some serious quid pro quo and ethics charges, so the system is already flawed.  I’m not on the level that I need to pick a sheriff or a coroner or a auditor or whomever those random people on the ballot are.  I feel that the experts should stick to what they are good at.  If I elect someone to a high position, I base that off of character, time spent in office, intellectual capacity, and choice of boxers, briefs, or commando (j/k on that last part).  So if I elect them, I feel that they will take the necessary council to elect the right person for the job.  I am not capable of being that council, lol.  Plus that would be change RIGHT NOW.  It may not be the end all be all, but at least we tried, and can fix it from there.  But everyone knows it isn’t working now, so we have to try SOMETHING. 

Please RSVP to robyn.smyers@sbcglobal.net

Hence why I am- for the second time- co-chairing something political (cringe) because just like needing Josh Mandel in Columbus, Cuyahoga County needs change NOW! I hope you’ll agree with me and come out on Monday (see below). 

Please RSVP to robyn.smyers@sbcglobal.net.  Thanks!

Cuyahoga County Reform: Why You Should Care

Please join us to hear about Issue 6

Monday, October 19, 2009

5:30 p.m. – 7:30 p.m.

Speakeasy

1948 W. 25th Street

Cleveland

(Across from West Side Market; basement of McNulty’s Bier Market)

Issue 6 is important for the future of Cuyahoga County.

We must participate in shaping that future!

Host Committee

Ryan Anderson

Charmaine Brown

Jennifer Carroll

Conor M. Coakley

Andrew Coleman

Tony Constantine

Jeffrey Epstein

Jose Feliciano, Jr.

Michael Goldberg

Elizabeth Hijar

Stephanie Howse

Romana Kulchytsky

Patrick Manfroni

Kevin Murphy

Ruth Ramos

Keshia Johnson

Raseem Parker

Rachel Perry

Nick Russo

Richik Sarkar

Marcus Sims

Robyn Minter Smyers

Laura Steinbrink

Jason Therrien

Jeffrey Wild

Daniel Young

RSVP by October 16 to

robyn.smyers@sbcglobal.net

Paid for by New Cuyahoga, Don Scipione, Treasure, 3821 Prospect Avenue, Cleveland, Ohio 44115

www.NewCuyahoga.com

Barack The Peacemaker And AM The Beatmaker

2 men VERY well respected for their body of work…. I felt like I had the DJ AM juices goin earlier, so I figured I’d make a nice tie in with the two…. Check it out…

DJ AM pushed the envelope to new heights back in 2008 at the HARDfest Halloween Mansion. He made electronic music relevant to the mainstream with an incredible homage to French born, Daft Punk. There were a lot of eyebrows raised when DP was announced to co-headline the show. A man came out dressed as DP w/ the robot helmet and everything, played a great DP infused set and everyone thought that it was DP…. Then all of a sudden, Aerodynamic hits the crowd’s ears. But this wasn’t just the original, it was a remix by Adam Freeland, made for then Senator Obama’s run for the White House. When the speak and spell O-B-A-M-A came on, it just kept repeating A-M, A-M, A-M.

Then DJ AM took the mask off and showed off his custom made ‘DJ AM Punk’ leather jacket and the bar was set yet again.

So President Barack Obama just won the Nobel Peace Prize recently and that is some kind of accomplishment. Only the 2nd sitting president to win the award (kudos). This win put the world on notice that America is going to change the game (again). We’re putting the rails down to get back on track. From one game changer to another, to another…. stay tuned, because ch-ch-change is still comin. RIP DJ AM…. make sure to catch his new series tonight at 10 on MTV. Shouts to all the LA homies who knew him well….. @fashen, @steve1der, @deejayspider, @skeetonmytwitts, @djspryte, @djtinat, @paserock, @deckstar, @grahamfunke, @theemikeb, @thecobrasnake

Btw, here’s the Aerodynamic Remix in case you’ve never heard it (cool video too!)

MTV Airing DJ AM’s, ‘Gone Too Far’ Series

I had heard that AM’s family was going to allow the airing of the series he was filming with MTV before his passing. I came across this video preview.

The show will be airing on Monday’s at 10pm. Catch “Amy” tonight on the season premiere. It’ll prob be super eerie with him just passing and all. Kind of like that movie Heath Ledger was working on when he passed. I don’t think it has been released yet. Any word on that?

Kanye West’s ‘Glow In The Dark’

Love him or hate him, the man does have style

I’m not sure where the world stands with Kanye West, but Kayne is teaming up with amazing collaborators for a book on all things art and design. The took is titled “Glow In The Dark” and it presents the insight with the production of his “Glow In The Dark” tour. The book is 288 pages long and shows on stage performances, behind-the-scenes shots, conceptual sketches by West, costume designs, and stage models. It also includes an audio CD featuring the previously unreleased live instrumentals for “Hey Mama”, “Touch the Sky”, “Jesus Walks”, and “I Wonder”, as well as an interview with video and film director Spike Jonze.

From BPM Magazine

FIFA World Cup To Be Held In…….. Cleveland?!?!?

That’s what the Greater Cleveland Sports Commission would like to see as well as the many, many soccer fans in this great city. There’s some stiff competition though as 27 cities are in the mix with the United States’ bid to host the ‘18 or ‘22 FIFA World Cup. There’s a petition on the website that you can go to to show your support and put your city on the map in a BIG way.

Says the website:
No nation embodies the values and spirit of the FIFA World Cup™ quite like the United States.

Whether you choose to call it soccer, football, or futbol, it is a game that, in so many ways, tells our nation’s story.

It is a game where individuals shine through participation, talent and creativity—but team success results from hard work, sacrifice and dedication to a common cause.

It is a democratic game that requires nothing more than a ball, a patch of ground and the passion to play.

It is the world’s game, and America, with its rich diversity, is a uniquely globalized nation. We are the world’s melting pot, and we have brought the game with us from every corner of the earth.

This is why the game has captured the imaginations of so many Americans and continues to grow at an astonishing pace. It is in our schoolyards and stadiums, our church parking lots and cornfields, our back alleys and beachfronts, pulsing through our cities and suburbs and countryside alike.

The game has grown and never before has there been an opportunity to unify all the diverse passions that live within our borders.

The game is everywhere. The game is in US. We are Americans and we are ready to welcome a FIFA World Cup™ that makes the game part of the everyday social consciousness of our country.

Click through to the website and show your support…. As a Clevelander (or one of the other 26 cities), and more importantly, as an American!

Click through and sign the petition for your city!

Braylon Edwards Punches Duck In The Face

Here’s a funny one… kinda. I’m sure Braylon has been catching all kinds of heat after that tear jerker on Sunday afternoon, so add that to drinking and this was bound to happen to some member of the Browns. Braylon called dude out on some serious ish (he wouldn’t be anything without Lebron), but let’s face it. Would he really be where he is without him? How about you just say yeah, I won the lottery, Fuck you, instead of insisting that it’s self made? Would that have disarmed Edwards? And who goes to the hospital for getting punched once? Seriously…. I get that ur gonna sue and prob get paid out of court, but it’s in the paper that you went Glass Joe on B, and it’s def the talk of Cleveland. Gotta love Cleveland man…. gotta love Cleveland.

CLEVELAND, Ohio — A-28-year-old Cleveland man accused Browns receiver Braylon Edwards of assaulting him early today at View Ultralounge & Nightclub.

Edward Givens said the incident took place outside of View nightclub at 618 Prospect Ave. at about 2:30 a.m. Givens said he went to Lutheran Hospital this morning because he suffered a black eye and a cut. He said he also has a headache.

The suspect’s name on the police report is redacted. But multiple sources and the victim say the suspect is Edwards.

A police report gives these details:

Givens was talking to the suspect outside the club when the suspect started an argument. The suspect then punched Givens with a closed first on the left side of his face. Givens told officers he would seek treatment at Lutheran Hospital.

Givens is a promoter with Eighty81 LLC, an events management and marketing firm that hosts parties on Sundays at View.

In an interview with cleveland.com’s Starting Blocks blog this morning, Givens said:

“After the club closed, I was outside greeting and saying goodbye to people. Braylon comes up and started saying things, degrading me. He said if it wasn’t for LeBron (James) or the Four Horsemen, I wouldn’t have what I have, nor would I be able to get girls. Everyone knows Braylon has a problem with LeBron. So I had to speak up for myself. The conversation started to escalate. As some of his teammates started to pull him back, he punched me. I have a black eye and a cut. I’m not a violent guy.

“As long as I’ve known Braylon, I’ve allowed him and his friends to come into our events free of charge. Whatever jealousy he has with LeBron, he felt he needed to take it out on me.”

James, who addressed the incident after the Cavaliers’ practice, criticized the attack on his friend. He said that he has no relationship with Edwards but has felt that the football player is jealous of his success. (Read more of James’ comments.)

Police officers then broke up another disturbance involving the suspect.

Simple assault case are not investigated by police. It is up to the victims to file complaints with the city prosecutor.

Browns coach Eric Mangini said he’s aware that there are reports of an incident involving Edwards and that he talked to Edwards about it.

Mangini said “personal conduct is very important to me.”

He said of Edwards’ demeanor during their talk, “Nobody wants to be in any situation but a positive situation. It’s someting we talked about. I’m still gathering information.”

He added that he doesn’t have many details and had no further comment at this time.

Source: Cleveland.com

Common Disses Brady Quinn @ – HOB 10.1.09

So the other day, rapper Common graced House of Blues Cleveland with his presence. I didn’t make it to the show, but I heard it was phenomenal. In typical Common fashion, he started on roughly a 4 minute freestyle. He talked about hot girls (shocker), and threw out various simile’s, then chose to make a cpl remarks about recently down and out QB, Brady Quinn as he watched above with Shaun Rogers, Braylon Edwards, Josh Cribbs, and others from an opera box.

To fans of Quinn, relax…. You should be proud that a visiting artist actually took the time to educate himself on what was going on in the city. He could have done the typical, “Hello Cincinnatti,” and proved he didn’t know where the hell he was. Always known as the thinking man’s rapper, Common proved it once again by coming up big and talking about the city’s most hotly debated topic. Check out the video below (great quality, thanks Adam).

And in case you think Brady really wasn’t there, somebody caught that on camera as well, lol.

Ouch! From what I heard though, Quinn was a great sport. Good for him